At the garden gate

Help, I have turned into one of those cranky old men who stand at their garden gate watching the world go by, sometimes rather disapprovingly at that.

I don’t know exactly when it happened, the turning into this personae . I may have been waiting for nurse Gillian to return home. I may have been tidying up the bay topiary bordering our tiny front patch of garden.
I am fond of wearing my Panama hat in the garden & I take great pleasure in doffing my hat to female passers by. It never fails to bring a smile to their faces, such an old fashioned thing to do.

Upon reflection i think I may have progressed straight from a
“net twitcher” to a fully fledged “dozy old fart standing at the garden gate” in one fell swoop when we had pigeon trouble.
our car is parked in a disabled space outside our home. Opposite is the cemetery and huge oak trees one of which overhangs our car. I said they were huge!.
Well, every night pigeons roost in the same spot , and doing copious poo parcels which coat our car every morning.
It’s only on our car. I had a brainwave...............
I bought some helium filled bright red balloons & released them to catch on the tree & scare the pigeons. 3 of the 4 balloons went straight up through the tree into the atmosphere. The 4th one lodged very firmly near the top. At this point a dozen crows fled the tree. They have never returned, the poo has stopped.
Where was I?

Re: At the garden gate

Robert you are a character ,there was a couple in the village i left and i miss these people .where i live now everyone is behind closed door you only
see them when they get in their cars to go shopping .

Its people like you who make the world go round a little happier for some ,when i had no one to talk to i would walk round my village in the knowledge i would have a conversation with Mushy ,he was one who stood at his garden gate ,always had a conversation for the passing villagers .
He would talk about his garden ,what he was growing and how to grow anything you didn't know .
Then it would go on to people in the village ,who had died ,who had new babies.
I would go home with a lovely feeling of content that there was people worth stopping for and having a friendly conversation .
So i would say to you carry on standing at the garden gate tipping your hat at any one passing , you are doing the community a service .

Re: At the garden gate

I think it's very sweet, Robert. My neighbour wears a panama hat when gardening and has trouble with birds pooping while sitting on a high wire near his house - wonder if the hat is attracting them?!!

Re: At the garden gate

There are several men who stand at their gates on our dog walk every day, have to say I very much enjoy their cheery good morning and whatever comment they wish to make about my dogs. Makes my day that little bit lighter so carry on I say. You may just be making someone's day with the tip of your hat !

Re: At the garden gate

Yes take heart dear RJ - you are a welcome sight, I would love to see you stood at the garden gate

Re: At the garden gate

http://www.over50sforum.com/image.ph...7&type=profile


Me with my panama hat on..........oops AND latest grandchild WITH sticks.no hoops though.

Re: At the garden gate

What a delightful photo Robert, one to treasure

Regarding standing at the garden gate, I would welcome chatting with you at the garden gate anytime ...

Re: At the garden gate

..and why not Robert someone has to do it

Re: At the garden gate

Don't ever change, RJ! You sound a very sweet man with good old fashioned manners.

Re: At the garden gate

I agree with Eliza, you are doing a service RJ, tipping your hat and smiling at passers by, reassures folks that there are still pleasant people about, long may you continue to do so, although it might get a little chilly later on in the month, you might have to don a muffler.
And the birds have flown, you'll have nothing to crow about now.